Canopies



W. C. HEIRICH Jan. 4, 1966 CANOPIES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April v, 1964 INVENTOR WILLIAM C. HEIRICH ATTORNEYS Jan. 4, 1966 w. c. HElRlcH 3,226,891

` oANoPIEs l Filed April v, 1964 3 sheets-sheet s INVENTOR WILLIAM C. HEIRICH Mofa/Mm ATTORNEYS 3,225,391 Patented Jan. 4, 1966 United States Patent Cfce 3,226,891 CANPIES o William C. Heirich, 2912 Wnuliilla Muskogee, Okla.`

Fired Apr, 7,1964, ser. Nessaszzi 'l 'cnam/5. (ci. sz-rs) Drive,

The invention disclosed herein relates Vto canopies or marquees and in particular to an improved` structural panel and supporting beam assembly included therein.

Building panel elements, such as those used in the construction of canopies, marquees and Carports, are rapidly becoming a subject of increasing importance in the construction industry. Prior canopies, such as disclosed in my recentlyissued Patent No. 3,107,401, have continually beensubject `to two important disadvantages. First, the present structural panels being designed and marketed have not been of surlicien't strength to allow the assembled units to span large distances. Even with the use of unsightly and bulky supporting members, great difculty has been experienced in assembling the individual panel units in `the eld. That is to say, the .presently employed joints or locking assemblies require each panel be slotted into place along a locking element of an adjacent panel and then slided into place. Such a procedure of assembling the panel units in the eld is obviously cumbersome when the panels approach lengths in the order of forty feet, Although numerous inventors have patented 'various locking panels involving relatively cornplicated joints, the snap-on assembly of the present invention is believed to be a patentable advancement "in the canopy art. See U.S. Patents Nos. 1,659,988, 1,854,438 and 3,111,788. Secondly, great dirliculty has been encountered in providing the necessary 'means for allowing water to drain from the panel assembly without overflowing the conventional small gutter which usually is merely a small portion of the fascia means, such as shown in FIGURE 2 of my patent `referred to above.

The canopy constituting the subject matter of this invention is believed to constitute a great advancement in this field since it solves the problems of panel support y and water disposal with a unique structural panel and beam design capable of (1) providing a modern type of metal canopy that has suicient strength to cover spans considerably `in excess of any now presently available,

(2) permitting the individual structural panels to be assemble-d by 'either sliding them together end-wise or merely snapping them `in place, and (3) providing a hidden reservoir for the disposal of "water with a capacity "greatly exceeding that Vof any present structure known.

Accordingly, it is an object oi invention to provide a l' simple, easily assembled, economical, metal canopy that has suicient strength fto cover large spans.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a structural panel design with a locking assembly permitting the panels 'to b'e assembled in the eld by either sliding or snapping in place.

`A further object of invention is to provide means for disposing of large quantities of water without resort to conventional gutters.

Yet additional objects of invention will become apparent from the ensuing specification and attached drawings which illustrate the canopy embodying the novel structural panel and beam design wherein:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of a canopy illustrating the structural panel and supporting beam` assembly.

supported at its ends by the supporting beams mounted upon posts.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE l showing the panel assembly, the supporting hollow beams, the panel and beam connection 'assemblies and the post assembly.

FIGURE 3 is an explode-d perspective view of a single panel and supporting beam together with the details of their o connection assembly. l

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of two adjacent inter lockingpanel members illustrating the stressing of each panel vmembers side portions after assembly.

FIGURE 5 is a detail view of the locking flange assembly of adjacent side portions of the adjacent panel members of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation in section illustrating an overhead rod installation that may be used as 'an alternate or complementary means of supporting `the canopy.

The novel canopy "or marquee disclosed herein consists of a structural panel assembly Il), supporting channel-shaped beams 3l), 31, panel and beam connection 'assemblies 40, and post assemblies `60.

PANEL ASSEMBLY- '10 y The structural panel assembly 10, as shown in IFIG- URES 1 and 4, consists of a plurality of individual interlocking `panel elements such as 12 and 14, for example, which are assembled by either sliding together `endwise or y,snapping together at locks or joints 22. As seen in FIGURE 4, each panel 12, 14 consists of arched or curved side portions l16 and 18 and a trough-like bottom portion 20. As seen in FIGURE 5, the .side portions 16 and 18 Vof each panel terminate in joints 22 dened by interlocking flanges 24 and 26. Flangef 24 of side portion 18 is semi-elliptical in cross-section while llange 26 of side portion 16 is relatvely `flat except 4:for a central curved portion which provides a hollow area serving to cover standard fittings such as rivets or screws (not shown). Thus, as panels 12 and 14 are snapped together, leg 25 of llange 24 is forced outwardly by leg 27 of flange 26 thus admitting flange 26 within flange 24. Sucient clearance d is left Vbetween legs 25 and Y27 of flanges 24 and 26 respectively to ensure that panels 12 and 14 can be assembled `by sliding -together end-wise.

` Since the locking assembly 22 provides for the assembly 'of panels 12. and 14 by either sliding or snappingf field assembly is simplified greatly since it is sometimes desirable to use panels as long as forty (40) feet. Spacer bars 28 may be inserted between adjacent locks V22 to strengthen the entire assembly and ensure uniformity of distancev between adjacent panels.

With reference to FIGURE 4, the original shape for the side portions 16 and 18 or each ypanel is represented bythe dashed portionsl 16' and 18. Thus, after adjacent panels 12 and 14 are inserted into interlocking relationship the side portions 16 and 18 are stressed to their permanent positions 16 and 18 which contributes greatly to the internal strength of the entire panel assembly 10. That is, breakdown load tests have shown that the increased stress in each side portion 16 Vand 18 of each panel 12, 14 contributes greatly to the load carrying capacity of each individual panel 12, 14 and the panel assembly 1t) as a whole.

Supporting channel-shaped beams 30 consist of side portions 32 and 34 and bottom portion 36. As seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, side portions 32 and 34 terminate in groove-d shoulders 38. The bottom portions 36 of each beam 30 is provided with a drainage port 39. The cross-section of the beam 30 may be varied so as to p`ro vide additional strength, if desired. It is always desirable, of course, to have the side portions 32 and 34 as long as possible to (1) increase the moment of inertia of the beams thus increasing resistance to bending stresses and (2) increase the water carrying capacity. The beam 30 located adjacent wall 11 is secured thereto by any conventional means such as bolt 37.

PANEL AND BEAM CONNECTION ASSEMBLY- 40 Each panel and beam connection assembly 40, as illustrated in FIGURE 3, consists of a beam clip 42 having a central opening 45 and end portions which terminate in guides 44 so as to enable the beam clip 42 to slide Within the grooved shoulders 3S of hollow beams 30. A panel clip 48, which is complementary in configuration to the trough-like bottom portion 20 of panel 14 is provided with opening 50. The panel 14 is thus attached to beam 30 by bolt 51 which passes through opening 50, and hole 52 which is bored through panel 14. Bolt 51 is then secured in threaded opening 45 of bolting portion 53 of beam clip 42. Since each beam clip 42 is approximately the same width as the trough-like bottom portion 20 of each panel 14, alternate openings 47, as seen in FIGURE 1, are provided at the top of beams 30 thus enabling water to pass from each panel 14 into the hollow portion of beams 30 with the, use of fascia-gutter means 56 which is secured within slot 48 contained by beam clip 42. The fascia-gutter means 56 diverts the water running off of the ends of the trough-like bottom portion 20 of each panel 14 into the center of beams 30 through openings 47. As seen in FIGURE 2, each fascia-gutter means 56 extends well above the height of beam 30 so as to hide the ends of the panels 14. A wall fiashing section 58 is inserted within slot 48 of the beam clip 42 located adjacent wall 11 so as to diverty water running down the wall 11 onto panel assembly 10. The wall flashing is sealed to the wall with calking S9.

POST ASSEMBLY-O The post assembly 60, as seen in FIGURE 2, consists of a hollow column 62, a top bracket 64 and a bottom bracket 66. The top bracket 64 is attached to the bottom portion of beam 30 with the use of bolts 68 and nuts 69 and has opening 81 coinciding with opening 39 of the bottom portion of beam 30 thus allowing water to pass from the interior of beam 30 to column 62. The water inside column 62 then leaves through opening 82 in bottom bracket 66.

ALTERNATE BEAM-31 If it is considered desirable from a structural standpoint to support panel assembly at a point intermediate the ends thereof (where beams 30 are located), alternate beam 31 may be employed. As seen in FIGURES l and 2, alternate beam 31, which is channel-shaped and similar in every respect to beams 30, is attached to each of the panels 12, 14 of the panel assembly 1! by a modified beam clip 54 having V-shaped troughs 55. To allow water to drain into beam 31 the panels 14, as seen in FIGURE 2, are provided with triangular shaped ports 41. The water passes through ports 41 into troughs 55 and then into beam 31 through alternating openings 47 in the same manner described above with respect to the passage of water from the ends of panels 14 into beams 30.

OVERHEAD ROD INSTALLATION-70 As an alternate feature of the present invention, an overhead rod assembly 70 may be used to support panel assembly 10. As seen in FIGURE 6, the overhead rod assembly 70 consists of tube 75 which terminates in semi circular nuts 76 and 77 which in turn are mounted within wall bracket 74 and panel bracket 72 respectively. A simple lock nut assembly (not shown) is utilized to enable tube 7S to be extended to its desired length. This improved rod installation allows the angle of tube 75 to be adjusted with ease since thesemi-circular nuts 76 and 77 il are free to rotate within their respective wall and panel brackets 74 and 72.

From the foregoing it is obvious that various modifications of the structure used to support the structural panel and beam assembly may be employed without departing from the basic concept of invention. As indicated above, the panel assembly 10 can be supported at one end thereof to a wall 11, such as shown in FIGURE 2. Obviously, some of the post assemblies 60 can be omitted where feasible. Also, the alternate beam 31 may be employed for providing additional support for longer-than-usual panels. Further, the overhead rod installation 70 may be employed as discussed above. Still further, modifications are possible by varying the relation of the beams 30 to the ends of the panel assembly 1li. In FIGURE la, for for example, a multiple span installation is shown where the panels are supported at points other than at their extreme ends. Alternately, a simple span position can be achieved as shown in FIGURE lb whereby the beams and posts support the panels at their extreme ends.

Manifestly, still further modifications of the novel structural panel and supporting beam assembly may be employed without departing from the scope of invention, as defined by the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. An interlocking panel which may be assembled together with other panels to form a wall either by sliding together or snapping in place, comprising arched side portions and an interconnecting intermediate portion, said arched side portions terminating in first and second complementarily configured locking fianges, said first locking flange having a top section and downwardly curved side sections on each side thereof, said downwardly curved side sections extending to points spaced inwardly from the furthermost extremities of said top section, one of said side sections of said first flange constituting a continuation of one of said arched side portions of said panel, said second fiange having a top section with a downwardly curved midportion, said top section of said second fiange being shorter in span than said top section of said first fiange as defined by the extremities thereof, said top section of said second fiange also being longer in span than the distance defined by said points between said downwardly and inwardly curved side sections of said first fiange, said second flange including a side portion constituting a continuation of the other of said arched side portions of said panel.

2. An interlocking panel as in claim 1, wherein said top section of said first locking fiange is curvilinear in configuration extending upwardly from the extremities thereof.

3. An interlocking p anel which may be assembled ,together with other panels either by sliding together or snapping in place, comprising arched side portions and an interconnecting intermediate portion, said arched side portions terminating in first and second complementarily configured locking fianges, said first locking fiange having a top section and downwardly curved side sections on each side thereof, said side sections being of the same radius of curvature and extending to points spaced inwardly from the furthermost extremities of said top section, one of said side sections of said first flange constituting a continuation of one of said arched side portions of said panel, said second fiange having a top section complementarily configured with respect to said first flange, said second flange having a top section shorter in span than said top section of said first flange as defined by the extremities thereof, said top section of said second fiange also being longer in span than the distance defined by said points between said downwardly and inwardly curved side sections of said first flange, said second fiange including a side portion constituting a continuation of the other of said arched side portions of said panel and being complementarily configured with respect to the other of said downwardly curved side sections of said first fiange.

4. A canopy, comprising: v (A) a plurality of interlocking, elongated panels to be assembled by either sliding or snapping together, said panels having trough-like bottom portions and arched side portions, wherein adjacent side portions of certain adjacent panels include first and second complementarily configured locking flanges,

(i) said first locking flanges having top sections and downwardly curved side sections on each side thereof, said downwardly curved side sections extending to points spaced inwardly from the furthermost extremities of the said top sections, one of said side sections of said irst flanges constituting a continuation of one of said arched side portions of said panels,

(ii) said second llanges having top sections being shorter in span than said top sections of said rst ilanges as defined by the extremities thereof, said top sections of `said second ilanges also being longer in span than the distance defined by said points between said downwardly and inwardly curved side sections of said rst flanges, including side portions constituting a continuation of the other of said arched side portions of said panels; i

(B) a plurality of beams for supporting saidpanels;

and (C) assembly means for securing said panels to said beams permitting said panels to move relative to said beams, as desired. 5. A canopy as in claim 4, wherein said assembly means includes a plurality of clips slidingly engaged within grooves located within said beams and means fastening said panels to said clips.

6. A canopy to be mounted with one end thereof se-` cured to a wall, comprising:

(A) a plurality of elongated panels lying adjacent each other, said panels having arched side portions and trough-like bottom portions, wherein adjacent side portions of selected adjacent panels include locking means whereby saidpanels can be snapped together in interlocking fashion;

(B) a plurality of hollow beams being generally channel-shaped in coniiguration for supporting said panels at preselected points, said beams having top and bottom portions, said top portions having an opening providing communication to said bottom portions of said beams and opening means in said bottom portions for permitting Water to drain therefrom, the upper ends of said top portions terminating in grooved shoulders, said plurality of beams including a irst beam adjacent said wall and a second beam remote from said wall;

(C) assembly means for securing said panels to said beams, said assembly means including a plurality of substantially llat beam clips having end portions terminating in guide members which are inserted into said grooved shoulders of said beams, said assembly means further including a plurality of panel clips being complementary in conguration with respect to said trough-like bottom portions of said panels and resting thereupon, and means for securing said beams and panel clips around said bottom portions of said panels; and

(D) fascia-gutter means attached to said assembly means and providing communication between said trough-like bottom portions of said panels and said opening in said top portions of said beams.

7. A canopy as in claim 6 wherein said beam clips also contain a slot into which said fascia-gutter means are inserted.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,019,379 10/1935 Anderson 160-235 1 2,811,935 11/1957 Jones 20-575 X 2,978,758 4/1961 Dunn 20-57.5 3,067,814 12/1962 Anthony 160--235 3,107,401 10/ 1963 Heirich 20-57.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 239,834 7/ 1962 Australia.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

I. K. BELL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN INTERLOCKING PANEL WHEN MAY BE ASSEMBLED TOGETHER WITH OTHER PANELS TO FORM A WALL EITHER BY SLIDING TOGETHER OR SNAPPING IN PLACE, COMPRISING ARCHED SIDE PORTIONS AND AN INTERCONNECTING INTERMEDIATE PORTION, SAID ARCHED SIDE PORTIONS TERMINATING IN FIRST AND SECOND COMPLEMENTARILY CONFIGURED LOCKING FLANGES, SAID FIRST LOCKING FLANGE HAVING A TOP SECTION AND DOWNWARLDY CURVED SIDE SECTIONS ON EACH SIDE THEREOF, SAID DOWNWARDLY CURVED SIDE SECTIONS EXTENDING TO POINTS SPACED INWARDLY FROM THE FURTHERMOST EXTREMITIES OF SAID TOP SECTION, ONE OF SAID SIDE SECTIONS OF SAID FIRST FLANGE CONSTITUTING A CONTINUATION OF ONE OF SAID ARCHED SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID PANEL, SAID SECOND FLANGE HAVING A TOP SECTION WITH A DOWNWARDLY CURVED MIDPORTION, SAID TOP PORTION OF SAID SECOND FLANGE BEING SHORTER IN SPAN THAN SAID TOP SECTION OF SAID FIRST FLANGE AS DEFINED BY THE EXTREMITIES THEREOF, SAID TOP SECTION OF SAID SECOND FLANGE ALSO BEING LONGER IN SPAN THAN THE DISTANCE DEFINED BY SAID POINTS BETWEEN SAID DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY CURVED SIDE SECTIONS OF SAID FIRST FLANGE, SAID SECOND FLANGE INCLUDING A SIDE PORTION CONSTITUTING A CONTINUATION OF THE OTHER OF SAID ARCHED SIDE PORTION OF SAID PANEL. 